The Voice 2014 - Recap - Battle Round #1

Welcome to the live blog and recap of the Battle Round #1 on The Voice 2014 Season 6! Which singers will advance? Will the Steal be used at all tonight?

Credit: NBC

Here are the pairings and song spoilers for tonight's battles:

TEAM ADAM
Kat Perkins vs. Patrick Thomson
“Whenever I Call You Friend” by Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks

TEAM BLAKE
Jake Worthington vs. Lexi Luca
“It Goes Like This” by Thomas Rhett

Paula DeAnda vs. Sisaundra Lewis
“Do What U Want” by Lady Gaga, feat. Christina Aguilera

TEAM SHAKIRA
Dani Moz vs. DeShawn Washington
“My Kind of Love” by Emeli Sande

TEAM USHER
Biff Gore vs. T.J. Wilkins
“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” by The Temptations

Jake Barker vs. Stevie Jo
“Higher Love” by Steve Winwood

Add your thoughts in the comments! Should be an interesting night. Let's get this show on the road!

RECAP

-We kick things off with a preview of what's to come, as Shakira has Miranda Lambert as a mentor, Adam Levine has Aloe Blacc, Blake Shelton has The Band Perry, and Usher has Jill Scott. This is actually a really eclectic mix of mentors, and it should make for a pretty interesting night.

-We get right into our first battle of the night...

TEAM USHER: BIFF GORE VS. TJ WILKINS

-Biff Gore is just about the bets name in the history of ever, a random combination of the villain from Back to the Future, and that guy who should have been president in 2000. Truly, this will be a battle for the ages.

-Usher has chosen "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," rationalizing that they're two men who love classic R&B. Both men are fairly star struck by Jill Scott, and I can't blame them. I have no idea why she isn't way more famous, given how talented she is not only as a singer but as an actress.

-In the studio, Usher has Jill sit in a chair while both guys make their plea to her with the song. Usher implores them to use their desperation to win her over, as the song is all about begging and pleading. It leads to some really interesting vocal choices, with both men truly digging into it and singing with conviction. Should be a tight battle.

-This is less a battle and more of a duet, which is a shame, since the best battles tend to be...well, a battle. Both guys sound nice, although I like Biff more on a strictly personal level. Both guys are great, but Biff just brings a certain uniqueness that TJ doesn't. However, TJ is the better singer, and the more marketable of the two. I expect TJ to take this one, although Biff's crazy squat thrusts really should count for something.

-The coaches are pretty unanimous in their praise, singling out Biff's flexibility. Usher notes that it's not about one person being better than the other, which seems like a weirdly incongruous thing to say, since that's pretty much the only thing the battle round is about. Usher makes his decision, picking the guy with the most fight...

TJ WILKINS WINS THE BATTLE!

-Biff thanks Usher and calls him a fantastic coach. "Go Team Usher." Aaaand no Steal. So Biff sadly goes to leave, when...

BLAKE SHELTON STEALS BIFF GORE!

-Blake says he was shocked he even had the opportunity to steal Biff, and says, "Why wouldn't I want to work with an artist like him?"

-Biff is practically speechless. Backstage, he hugs it out with Blake, who tells him, "I got you! I got you!" Kind of adorable. I also love that Blake is trying to build a more diverse team this season. Although you'd never know it from the next battle...

TEAM BLAKE: JAKE WORTHINGTON VS. LEXI LUCA

-Both artists are understandably excited, but really intimidated. Jake seems more introverted and shy, while Lexi pretty much falls apart, getting really shaky and nervous before becoming consumed by tears.

-They sing "It Goes Like This" by Thomas Rhett, and in the studio, neither singer is all that great. But it's just a rehearsal, so I definitely see the room for improvement. Seriously, this song is kind of perfect for both their voices. Right now, Lexi seems game for just about anything. Jake's problem, however, is that he comes across as though he'd rather be singing ANYTHING else but a love song. And this could be a problem, as Blake says early on that this is the kind of song they'll both need to learn how to sing if they want to make it in country music. I'm not sure how true that statement is, but I figure he'd know better than most.

-So the battle starts, and Jake does something really interesting: he takes the love song and actually sings it AT Lexi. You could forgive me thinking he's actually in love with her from how he sings it. In a reversal on the studio rehearsal, it seems like Lexi is the one who's lost in herself -- at least until the bridge, when Lexi really gets into it and gives Jake a run for his money in the passion department. She still looks nervous, but her voice is as strong as it's ever been.

-Was I the only one who expected them to kiss at the end? Yes? Okay then.

-Usher thought it was an incredible battle, although he advises Lexi on developing a fearless quality. Shakira loved the performance, particularly Jake's voice, which she hopes he doesn't change. Adam, meanwhile, thinks Jake could potentially take this entire competition. For his part, Blake notes that it's hard to contain one's energy during a performance, and he thought Lexi (who is now in tears) did a great job. Blake has to make his decision, and it's so weird: Jake was so passionate during the performance, but he looks so completely lifeless the rest of the time. It's crazy. I mean, I don't doubt he feels things. It's simply that he doesn't appear to have the most expressive face.

-Blake makes his choice...

JAKE WORTHINGTON WINS THE BATTLE!

-Nobody uses the steal on Lexi, prompting Blake to give her a goodbye hug and tell her to "Keep in touch." Blake hates when he has to let go of kids, because there's an added emotional factor. But hey, he's taken kids to the title before, so I suppose it's a risk he feels he has to take. Backstage, in a touching scene, Jake consoles Lexi by telling her she did a great job, and adding that her family loves her. You know, Adam might not be wrong about Jake being a contender. Despite his relatively blank, expressionless face, he's an immensely likable guy with a hell of a voice and a killer backstory (no turn-arounds in Season 5, but came back and took the competition by storm).

-So we see the meeting between Miranda Lambert and Shakira, who grills the country star on Blake's weaknesses. Cute.

TEAM SHAKIRA: DANI MOZ VS. DESHAWN WASHINGTON

-Shakira has given the duo Emeli Sande's "My Kind of Love," nothing that Dani is more of a pop artist, while Deshawn is kind of a throwback artist. I don't really know how that makes this a good song choice for either of them, since it's kind of a dark, belter's song. More perplexingly, both singers rehearse the song in different keys, which is strange since they'll both be singing it in the same key for the battle. Still, they sound decent from what little we hear. Miranda really loves it, noting that she wishes she could curse on TV.

-In the studio, Miranda notes that "outsinging each other isn't just singing the big notes," which is a comment mostly directed at Dani, who steps in on the end of Deshawn's verses. But they work on it, and eventually Dani is nailing every note while Deshawn brings a certain gritty quality that is eminently compelling. Seriously, had no idea he had all that going on.

-I like Dani's voice on this. I'd have been higher on Deshawn, but he seems committed to not singing the melody outside of the verses. And the verses themselves are pretty nasally. Of course, I say all this, but Deshawn pretty much brings it towards the end. This actually felt like a battle, which is the first time tonight I've actually felt that way.

-Adam says their chemistry "won the audience," but refuses to commit on picking a winner. Blake teases Adam about that, before noting that Deshawn really surprised him in this battle. "I might have to go with Deshawn just for the shock value." Usher, meanwhile, tells Deshawn that "big things come in small packages," noting he'd pick Deshawn for how well he performed outside of his element. Shakira notes she's starting to regret pairing them together, because they're both such strong singers. She highlights each of their positives (Deshawn's skill, Dani's fire), before agonizing over her final decision...

DANI MOZ WINS THE BATTLE!

-Shakira feels she can do more with Dani, although she notes that she loves Deshawn. "This was the toughest battle of all ... but I wanted somebody with a big voice."

-Deshawn, surprisingly, does not receive a steal. Shakira says it breaks her heart that no one stole him. Usher's rationale is that he already has a singer on his team that is really similar to Deshawn, and so he wants to save his steals for "the unquestionable." Honestly, while I liked Deshawn, I'm with Usher on this one. Gotta save those steals.

TEAM ADAM: KAT PERKINS VS. PAT THOMSON

-This should be a solid battle, as they're similar enough for the pairing to make sense, but different enough for it to be unique and varied. Kat is easily starstruck upon meeting Aloe Blacc, and notes she had to make certain she was breathing.

-Adam gives the pair “Whenever I Call You Friend” by Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks, noting that it's a perfect duet song that is a great match for Kat and Pat's voices. Upon first hearing him sing, Kat states she loves Patrick's "gritty and raw" voice, adding "We're going into this neck-and-neck." However, Pat is less certain about his upper register.

-In the studio, Pat works on his upper register, and Adam tells him that he shouldn't try to recreate what was already done. He compares Pat to Joe Cocker, and tells him to follow his example in terms of hitting the notes. The editing here seems to suggest a win for Pat, since Kat is getting very little focus. Adam, for his part, states that he regrets putting them together, because they both deserve to be here.

-Adam meets with them backstage on the night of their performance, and basically offers a pep talk. He's the only judge to have done this so far tonight.

-WILL CHAMPLIN is in a commercial for Clear Scalp & Hair! Apparently, they're sponsoring The Voice Summer Tour, which...I mean, I really don't see tickets selling for that. But hey, if Idol can still barely break even with their summer tour, I don't see why The Voice shouldn't be able to as well.

-Pat starts out pretty rough, honestly. But Kat joining in seems to get him back on the right track. Of course, the weird thing here is that the song seems less of a perfect match for their voices now, in a full-band rendition, than it did when they were just rehearsing it on the piano. However, this becomes a really tight battle about midway through, as both are really digging into the vocals in an attempt to outdo each other, as it should be. They're both exceedingly talented, and I seriously don't envy Adam one bit. (At least not as it concerns this decision.)

-Blake says "I know forever we'll be doing it" is one of his all-time favorite lyrics in the song. He says the bridge was the tiebreaker for him, as they both got huge notes to hold out. He ultimately felt Kat had the better performance. Usher, meanwhile, took a while to warm up to the song, but got onboard once they hit the bridge. Blake asks Usher if he liked the line about doing it, and then we get Shakira making a semi-joke as well, noting that it sounded like Pat and Kat have been doing it for a long time (singing together, presumably). Shakira would go with Patrick. As for Adam, he feels this will be his hardest decision, since this was a great pairing for the sake of a good battle, but a tough one in terms of making a choice, since he feels both have the potential to be in the Top 5. Adam makes his decision...

KAT PERKINS WINS THE BATTLE!

-Kat feels she and Adam are a perfect match, and she's understandably stoked to still be around. Pat notes he appreciates everything Adam has done to help him grow. Just as it seems like nobody is going to steal him, Shakira hits her button.

SHAKIRA STEALS PATRICK THOMSON!

-Shakira says she stole Patrick because "he's so good." She loves his raspy, deep voice, and I think she actually made an interesting choice in stealing him, as her team is getting more and more diverse. Pat is excited to see how Shakira will help make him better.

TEAM BLAKE: PAULA DEANDA VS. SISAUNDRA LEWIS

-Blake states that this battle already breaks his heart, since he'll have to lose one. He gave them "Do What U Want," explaining his experience hearing Christina and Lady Gaga sing it last season. So yeah, his expectations for this are pretty high, but The Band Perry says they want both singers to stay. I'd be shocked if the loser wasn't stolen at the end of this battle, actually.

-In the studio, The Band Perry suggests that they go back and forth on the chorus, while Blake notes that Sisaundra's pitch is occasionally inconsistent. Sisaundra says she wants to win this for her children, to show them they have a mom that's a fighter.

-For his part, Blake feels that neither singer has a real weakness right now, although he notes that Paula will have to turn it up a bit, while Sisaundra will have to dial it down a bit. He implores them to make this decision hard on him, and I can't see how they wouldn't. I know not everyone really likes Paula, and some are angry out of a sense that she already had her chance. But I think she's a diamond in the rough.

-So yeah, this is my second favorite battle of the night after Jake vs. Lexi (I was just strangely taken with that battle). Both women really bring it, and Blake continues to impress me not just with the diversity of his team, but with the congruity of his song choices. He's a much better coach than I think some people might even realize, despite having three wins under his belt. But back to these two singers. I have absolutely no idea how Blake is going to pick, but if it were me, I just couldn't let Sisaundra go.

-Usher congratulates both women, although he calls Paula out on pitch issues, saying her falsetto was shaky, and warning that she shouldn't go for those notes unless she's sure she can hit it. Shakira disagrees, feeling Paula hit the high note. However, much like Usher, she's going with Sisaundra. Adam, meanwhile, doesn't know how Blake is going to choose. Naturally, Blake himself isn't sure how he's supposed to choose. But while he praises both women, his critique seems to favor Sisaundra, as he notes Paula fell out of the "pocket" in points. He makes his choice...

SISAUNDRA LEWIS WINS THE BATTLE!

-Paula thanks Blake for having her on his team. Unfortunately, nobody picks her up. I might be the only one, but I think that's a pretty big mistake.

TEAM USHER: JAKE BARKER VS. STEVIE JO

-I'm totally stoked for this, since I think both these guys have tremendous falsetto, and wonderful tone. I really hope the loser gets a Steal.

-Jake geeks out upon meeting Jill Scott, while Stevie is hoping to step his game up to match Jake's nuanced vocals. Usher gives them "Higher Love" by Steve Winwood, which I actually don't think is that great a song choice.

-During the session, Usher suggests more restraint for Jake, while recommending more power for Stevie, noting his background in metal. Jill compares Jake favorably to Justin Timberlake, and applauds Stevie for his passion. However, she tells both singers they need to emote.

-In the studio, the first run-through is disastrous, with Stevie noting that neither of the coaches seem thrilled with the vocals. "Are you?" Usher asks. He insists that both men need to work on the song until they perfect it.

-The battle begins, and honestly, the sessions with Usher and Jill Scott must have paid off, because both guys sound absolutely terrific. Well, until an ill-advised falsetto battle during the bridge. But beside that moment, I think this was a really strong battle. I'd give the slight edge to Stevie, although I actually think there's more potential in Jake. He's like clay just waiting to be molded into something great.

-Shakira praises both men, but says she'd go with Jake ("or maybe Stevie," she covers). Adam, meanwhile, lays down the gauntlet, saying both guys are going to make it through because he's taking the loser. He doesn't even care which one it is. Shakira, meanwhile, cuts in to declare her love for both Jake and Stevie. Blake says he's never seen a more evenly-matched battle, but he would go with Jake. As for Usher, he praises Jake for delivering on his first time on the big stage. Meanwhile, he notes that Stevie killed it, and adds that it's never been this hard for him. That's starting to sound like an empty platitude at this point -- except, after that battle, I kind of believe it. Blake makes a crack about the impending commercial, asking if we can feel the suspense. "What will happen next?"

-So Usher makes his choice...

STEVIE JO WINS THE BATTLE!

-And right away, both Adam and Shakira press their buttons. Adam and Shakira argue, and suddenly, BLAKE HITS HIS BUTTON TOO! So now Jake has a decision to make. Adam says they share tattoos and iPod playlists, which Blake says is the worst pitch he's ever heard. Meanwhile, Shakira says she can introduce him to Rihanna. Blake tries to turn the tide, but I can't imagine Jake actually going with him. Ultimately, Jake makes his choice.

ADAM STEALS JAKE BARKER!

-Adam congratulates him backstage, and notes that if he'd gone with Blake, he'd have had a heart attack. I'd argue, at this point, that Adam has the strongest team, which always seems to be the case in the early going.

-So that's it! What did you think of the first battles of the season? Did the coaches make the right choices? Sound off in the comments!

-Thanks for hanging out, everyone! You guys have been great, as always.

GOODNIGHT!